cru•sade
Pronunciation: (kr-sād'), [key]
— n., v., -sad•ed, -sad•ing.
—n.
- (often cap.) any of the military expeditions undertaken by the Christians of Europe in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries for the recovery of the Holy Land from the Muslims.
- any war carried on under papal sanction.
- any vigorous, aggressive movement for the defense or advancement of an idea, cause, etc.: a crusade against child abuse.
—v.i.
- to go on or engage in a crusade.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.